Bad press

"If it weren't for bad luck, we'd have no luck at all."
--Hee Haw

Makes me think of all the bad press the press is getting these days. I'm not talking about Murdoch and Fox--that's obscene.  I mean all the reports on the "death of journalism."

Yesterday was this inaccurate journalism about one in seven newspapers being digital. Sloppy reporting and editing. Didn't give total numbers of newspapers, didn't say what kind--daily, weekly or monthly. Nor paid or unpaid. You'd get an F for this kind of reporting in a decent class.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/one-seven-us-newspapers-now-digital-survey-165454733.html

Then there was an earlier report saying a reporter's job was the fifth worst in the country in terms of future and pay.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2012/04/10/the-best-and-worst-jobs-for-2012/

And I admit, there are fewer jobs, and the pay isn't terrific. I sometimes think newspapers and broadcast are their own worst enemies for the low pay they think they can get away with. If they can't pay a living wage, and keep cutting content, and thereby losing audience, and advertising, then they do deserve to die. Years ago I wrote an article for Editor and Publisher about one of my graduates making less as the editor of the Chickasha newspaper than beginning milkers at Braum's dairy.

I had an artist at the art festival, who looked intelligent, tell me journalism was dead after I told him I was a journalism prof.

No it's not. Digital is challenging and revitalizing journalism, but, there's more to the story. I have a love-hate relationship with journalism. I understand why students and ex-students seek other jobs.

But American journalism is far too diverse to lump into one category and declare extinct. There are jobs, and benefits, and a future, no matter what "they say."

So here's a positive link, from Forbes, about being a reporter as the best job ever.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2012/04/16/forget-that-survey-heres-why-journalism-is-the-best-job-ever/